EU parliament proposes VC allocation requirement in IORP II review proposal
Damian Boeslager, the MEP in charge of the IORP II reform for the European Parliament, has outlined his initial thinking about the way forward
Credit Suisse pension fund de-risks as cash outflows reshape strategy
The changes mark a shift towards a more permanent environment of structural cash outflows, prompting a realignment of the investment process
DWP extends master trust-style transfer powers to CDC schemes
UK government confirms CDC schemes can receive bulk transfers without consent, prompting early industry support
Sweden mulls changing AP funds’ illiquid asset rules after Northvolt lessons
AP4 welcomes review, and says buffer fund is already addressing several of report’s main recommendations
Swiss pension funds increase domestic equity exposure as funding ratios surge
Strong equity returns and higher domestic allocations lifted Swiss pension funds to historic funding highs
NBIM, investor bodies oppose EU plans to change financial analysis in sustainability reports
European Commission closed a consultation on proposed changes to the European Sustainability Reporting Standards last week
Swedish government reshuffles leadership at AP Funds
Leadership changes announced at AP2, AP3 and AP7 as several long-serving board members depart
People moves: PGGM appoints chief transformation officer
Plus: Association of Consulting Actuaries elects chair; Italy’s Fondoposte shuffles board
IPE Top 500 Asset Managers preview: leading managers report slower AUM growth
Weak US dollar translates into lower AUM growth in euro terms, but top managers consolidate market share
PME credits ESG filters for equity outperformance despite benchmark lag
Dutch pension fund says ESG screening enhanced equity returns, despite underweight to US technology
Pensions UK backs action on adequacy as retirement living costs increase
Updated retirement living standards underline adequacy concerns as auto-enrolment contribution reforms remain under review
Improved solvency prompts BaFin to end intensified Pensionskassen supervision
German financial supervisory authority BaFin ends intensified supervision of Pensionskassen as funding positions strengthen
LGPS access extended to councillors and mayors in England
The move aligns England with Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, where elected members have access to the Local Government Pension Scheme
ISO launches investor standard for climate plans
Launch comes as PGGM expert says asset owners should include policy advocacy and impact investments in transition plans
Just Group completes buy-ins with two separate UK pension funds
Hartwells Pension Plan (1971) and The Church of Scotland Pension Scheme for Ministers and Overseas Missionaries have secured buy-in transactions with Just Group
UK pension megafund reforms may not boost returns, PPI warns
International evidence suggests larger pension schemes do not automatically deliver higher returns or investment outcomes
Lusenti Coninco looks to expand among Swiss pension funds following merger
Swiss consultant aims to deepen large pension fund relationships as private markets increase governance demands
UK master trusts join forces on transfers as dashboard passes 70 million records
Pensions dashboard growth and small-pot consolidation drive push for transfer modernisation
Invest in storytelling, outreach to demonstrate social value, pension funds told
New ICPM working group report outlines how pension funds can strengthen their role as ‘social infrastructure’ providers
Almenni-Lífsverk eyes second merger in months as €7.2bn tie-up with SL takes shape
Icelandic pension fund pair to explore potential merger; joint fund would be country’s fourth largest
AP7 excludes 600 companies in response to ‘unpredictable world’
Swedish pension fund said that current geopolitical and economic uncertainty had prompted a rethink of its strategy
BpfBouw doubles dollar hedge to mitigate Trump risk
The Dutch pension fund for the construction sector increases currency hedging after Trump-related market volatility challenged dollar safe-haven status
SEC formally proposes to drop climate disclosure rules
US regulator announces official plan for climate reporting rule first published in March 2024 under Biden administration
Swiss association urges members to deny debt financing to major fossil fuel companies
Swiss responsible investment association, SVVK-ASIR, advises pension fund members to phase out fossil fuel debt holdings
Pension funds join call for swift agreement on EU automotive law
Church of England Pensions Board is one of 16 investors calling for the European Commission’s automotive package to be agreed ‘quickly and as proposed’
AP2 strengthens human rights, deforestation and climate requirements for external managers
Swedish pension fund’s latest sustainability report reveals efforts across unlisted assets including private equity and real estate
Swiss watchdog tightens oversight of fast-growing multi-employer pension funds
Increasing assets under management and the number of members can affect the stability of the country’s second pillar pension system, OAK BV said
Exxon and Meta votes highlight investor unease over shareholder rights erosion
Morningstar Sustainalytics says votes at the two US companies reveal growing sensitivity over governance structures and investor rights erosion
Dutch funds scoop up short-term swaps amid DC transition
Pension funds need fewer long-duration hedging and more shorter-duration swaps to hedge interest rate risk in the new pension system
People moves: Alecta’s chief to retire
Peder Hasslev is retiring as chief executive officer of Sweden’s largest pension fund this autumn
Sampension, KLP among Nordic pension funds warning EU off Arctic oil U-turn
Commission urged to double down on commitment “to protect the fragile ecosystems north of the Arctic Circle from new oil and gas infrastructure”
National pensions tracking experts see limited scope for integrated European service
Creating a pensions tracking service “not a development that can take place from one day to another”, says Dan Adolphson Björck of Sweden’s minPension
DB surplus extraction expected to fall short of industry expectations
Expectations of widespread surpluses across DB schermes may not reflect the realities of extraction, says the PPI
Pension funds warn removal of BP chair signals wider governance failings
The oil giant faces renewed shareholder scrutiny after Albert Manifold’s dismissal exposed deeper concerns over governance, oversight and strategy
Liquidity emerges as strategic asset class for pension schemes
The move comes as private markets exposure continues to increase, according to a report from Northern Trust
Defence and sustainable investment debates need more nuance, says Eurosif
New Eurosif paper highlights varying investor approaches as asset owners assess whether defence can sit inside sustainable strategies
Public market allocations drive 8% return for Church Commissioners in 2025
2025 performance marks 17th consecutive year of positive returns
Consultation launches on reporting framework for social issues
Investors are being asked to provide feedback on draft from Taskforce on Inequality and Social-related Financial Disclosures
Lucerne pension fund to raise private equity impact allocation
LUPK plans higher allocations to impact-focused private equity, infrastructure and micro-finance despite wider Swiss caution
UK DC providers move beyond illiquid debate towards implementation, says Isio
Research shows UK master trusts increasing illiquid allocations while implementation concerns move centre stage
Compenswiss tenders up to CHF1bn per money market fund allocation
Swiss institutional investors launch manager searches across liquidity, US equity and global small-cap strategies
FCA publishes review of transition finance for climate solutions
Regulator says UK is primed for green investments, and large investors should focus on demand signals and policy advocacy
German dentists’ scheme launches legal action over alleged private markets losses
VZB alleges unlawful high-risk investments breached regulations, triggering multi-party legal action against Forvis Mazars, ApoBank and Berlin over substantial losses
Fidelity FutureWise grows to £25bn amid UK DC private markets push
The FutureWise workplace pension strategy has grown from £6.5bn since adopting a target date fund (TDF) structure in 2022
KPN pension fund abandons core-satellite approach
Dutch telecoms pension fund simplifies investment structure after underperformance and growing governance complexity concerns
Partners Group targets pension demand for income-focused private equity
Lower-leverage private equity strategy targets institutional demand for income alongside long-term capital appreciation
People moves: JP Morgan AM hires head of EMEA ETF capital markets
Plus: Germany’s occupational pension association appoints new board members; ZEDRA adds client director to team
Major report on climate adaptation hailed as a ‘wake-up call’ for UK investors
Climate Change Committee says ‘critical action needed’ to safeguard the country’s financial system
UK DC consolidation drive gathers pace as L&G default fund reaches £25bn
L&G says its flagship DC default fund exceeded government scale ambitions and private markets commitments
FCA raises concerns about ESG in credit ratings
Move comes as US Republicans threaten credit rating agencies with enforcement action over integration of sustainability risks
